Signaling.



No. 801,394, PATENTED OUT. 10, 1905.

F. L. OBRYAN.

SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a [RUG/C607.

No. 801,394. I PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. F. L. OBRYAN.

SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29; 1905.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2 PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

F. L. OBRYAN.

SIGNALING.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 29, 1905.

s SHEETS-11331 3.

K W w 2 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFTGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed June 29. 1905. Serial No. 267,491.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANcIs L. OBRYAN,

' a citizen of the United States, residing in South Framingham, in thecounty of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have inventedcertain'new and useful Improvements in Signaling, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in signalsand in the means for operating the same selectively.

To this end the invention comprises a series of signals, motors foroperating the several signals, and means controlled by the speed of theindividual motors for operatively connepting the same with thecorresponding signa s.

One practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of asemaphoresignal and the operating mechanism therefor. Fig. 2 is an endelevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a systeminvolving the application of a three phase electric transmission circuitfor operating a series of semaphores of the type illustrated in Figs. 1and 2 selectively.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a indicates a pivoted semaphore-arm, suchasis usually employed in railway signaling systems, which is adapted tobe moved to a horizontal position to indicate danger and to asubstantially vertical or inclined position to indicate safety, as willbe well understood by those versed in the art. Mounted in a suitableframework attached to the semaphore-support is a reciprocating slide 0,connected to the semaphore by a link I), so that as said slide is movedto one or the other of its extreme positions the semaphore is moved todanger or to safety, as the case may be. The slide 0 is guided insuitable bearings e, mounted upon the standards of the framework, whichbearings cause the movement of the slide to be confined in a rectilinearpath. The upper edge of said slide 0 is provided with two recesses g g,which are adapted to be alternately engaged by a spring-detent f,attached to the framework and overlying said slide 0, said detentserving to lock the semaphore in its extreme positions.

Journaled in suitable bearings on the framework is a short shaft 76,having on its outer end a crank Z, provided at its end with a roller m,adapted to engage a depending arm h, rigidly secured to the side ofslide 0, and also adapted to engage a trip "i, pivoted to the oppositeside of the slide 0, and said trip adapted as it is swung in either direction by the engaging crank to strike the forward end of spring-detentf and free the slide 0 preparatory to the movement of said arm in onedirection or the other by the cooperation of crank Z with arm h. Uponshaft 7:: is fixed a gear j, havinga portion of its teeth cut away for apurpose to be hereinafter more particularly described. Connected by astrap or cord to the shaft is is a spring n, which tends to rotate theshaft to carry the crank out of engagement with the arm '6.

Located at one side of the slide 0 and gear j is a motor p, upon theshaft 0 of which is slidably mounted a gear the shafts 0 and 76 beingsubstantially parallel, so that at one point in the sliding movement ofgear Q said gear will engage and rotate gear and its shaft Zr. Thesliding movement of the gear Q is regulated by a centrifugal governor,formed of the usual weights 8, mounted upon spring-arms s, the latterbeing connected at one end to a stationary collar on the motorshaft 0and at the other end to a corresponding collar secured to the sleeve 7"of gear The weights 8 or the springs s, or both of them, are so adjustedthat the governor will move the gear Q into position on shaft 0 to meshwith gear j on shaft 7c only when the motor attains a certainpredetermined speed, and when the speed of the motor exceeds or fallsbelow the predetermined limit by any material amount the gear Q eitherslides'past gear j without operating the same or fails to move farenough alon its shaft to mesh with said gear j. It wil be seen,therefore, that the operative engagement of gears Q and j is directlydependent upon and in accordance with the predetermined speed of themotor p. For example, if the centrifugal governor is set to bring thegears into mesh when the motor attains a speed of five hundredrevolutions per minute, if said motor is so controlled as to decreaseits speed to four hundred and fifty revolutions per minute the gear Qwill not be moved sufficiently to mesh with gear and if the speed of themotor be increased by appropriate means to five hundred and fiftyrevolutions per minute gear Q will be quickly slid past gear withoutoperating the same.

When the motor has attained the speed required, gear Q is moved directlyopposite gear and drives the latter and with it shaft /r and crank Z,which in the upper arc of its revolution engages trip i, which knocksspring-detent font of the cooperating recess 9 or g in slide 0 and freesthe latter. The continued movement of said crank Z engages the roller mon the end thereof with depending arm h and moves the slide a to one orthe other of its extreme positions to set the sema-.

phore a to danger or safety position, accordingly as the motor p isdriven in one direction or the other. As the slide 0 and the semaphore areach the limit of their movements the mutilated portion of gear comesopposite the teeth of gear q, and the rotation of said gear is arrested;but said gear is still held in the position to which it has been moveduntil the motor 1) is deprived of its energy or its speedis changed whengear q moves away from gear 9' under the influence of the centrifugalgovernor, whereupon spring n immediately reverses the shaft 76 and crankZ, moving the latter out of engagement with trip i and permitting detentf to engage the particular recess 9 or g, which is immedi ately belowthe end thereof, and lock the semaphore in the position in which it hasbeen set. A clockwise rotation of the motor as illustrated in Figs. 1and 2 drives gear to set the semaphore at safety, and an anticlockwisemovement of said motor adjusts the signal to danger, so that theconditions to be observed to properly operate the semaphore are two,first, to drive the motor in the appropriate direction, and, second, tospeed the motor at the predetermined number of revolutions per minuterequired to cause the speed-governor to move gear 9 into mesh with gearand hold said gear in that position.

In order that the semaphore may also serve effectively as anight-signal, it is provided with the usual spectacle at its rear endwhich is adapted to be brought into registry with a red light twhen thesignal is set at danger and with a white or green light a when thesemaphore is thrown to the opposite positions. The lights 25 and u arepreferably in candescent electric lamps adapted to be conn ected intoand cut out of a power-circuit a b by a switch 0 on the end of slide 0.For example, when the semaphore is at danger current passes through lampi from lead a, thence to contact d, switch 0, contact 6 to return-lead1). Under these conditions the circuit to lamp a is broken at contaetsfn. When the semaphore is moved to safety, as indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 1, slide 0 has moved to its other extreme position and switch 0closes the circuit of lamp u as follows: lead a, Wire Z lamp 41, wire j,contact n, switch a, contact f wire 6, to return-lead 1).

Means for indicating the position and op eration of the signal at acentral controllingstation may be supplied, and a simple and efficientapparatus for accomplishing this ob j ect comprises a circuit-closerconsisting of a spring member 1 and a stationary contact (1;, connectedto the two leads of an electric circuit containing a suitable indicatingor recording instrument, said spring member lying in the path of andbeing adapted to be operated to close the circuit by a projection on theunder side of slide 0, said projection being provided with a series ofbreaks preferably corresponding to the dots and dashes of the Morsecode, each slide having a distinctive arrangement of such dots anddashes to properly identify the operation of the corresponding signal atthe central station.

To apply a series of separate signals of the type hereinbefore describedto a system of control in which the signals may be operated selectively,the several signals with their opcrating-motors are located at thedesired po sitions and the motors connected to a source of power whichmay be so controlled as to vary and regulate the speed of the severalmotors. The centrifugal governors of the several motors are regulated tocause the corresponding gears q and to engage only when the speed of themotor reaches and remains at a predetermined limit. For example, thegears of the first signal are engaged by the corresponding governor tooperate said signal when the speed of the signal-motor is one hundredrevolutions per minute and none of the other signal-gears will mesh, asthe other motors have a speed of only one hundred revolutions perminute. At two hundred revolutions per minute of the several motorsgovernor No. 1 will pull its gear (1 uickly past gear j withoutoperating signal No. 1; but governor No. 2 will cause its gear to meshwith corresponding gear and operate signal No. 2; but the other signalsare still unoperated, because their respective governors are set tocause their corresponding gears to mesh only at higher speeds of themotors, such as three hundred revolutions per minute, four hundredrevolutions per minute, &c., respectively.

The motor system may be of any desired type, provided it is sufficientlyelastic to permit of ready adjustment of the power source to vary andregulate the speed of the motors by the different amounts necessary tobring the respective signal operating gears into mesh through the agencyof the corresponding governors, and thereby operate the signalsselectively in either direction. Such system may, for example, be adirect-current electric-transmission circuit, an alternatingcurrentcircuit, or, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a three-phaseelectric-transmission circuit comprising a three-phase generator A, towhose leads 1., 2, and 3 synchronous meters 2) at signal-stations Nos.1, 2, and 3, respectively, are connected. A reversing-switch B of anyapproved type is located in the power-circuit to change the direction ofthe current and reverse the motors p at will from the central station.The speed of the motors is also controlled and regulated from thecentral station by varying the current conditions in the circuit as, forexample, varying and regulating the speed of generator A or interposingresistances or a suitable compensating device in the circuit-leads,thereby changing and regulating the frequency of current in the line.For example, if the generator develops a frequency sufficient to turnall of the motors at one hundred revolutions per minute signal No.1 willbe operated, as hereinbefore described, but signals Nos. 2 and 3 willnot be affected. If the frequencybe changed to cause all the motors p toturn at the rate of two hundred revolutions per minute, signal N o. 2only Will be operated, and at a still further change in the frequency tospeed all the motors at three hundred revolutions per minute signal No.3 will be operated to the exclusion of all of the others, and so on,each predetermined change in the frequency causing one particular one ofany number of motors to be operatively connected with its signal tooperate the latter alone and in either direction, according to theposition of switch B. In practical operation generator A is driven lightor with switch B open until the desired frequency is attained to producethe neces sary speed in the motors to operate the signal correspondingto that speed. Then switch B is closed and the current sent to line todrive all of the motors and to operate but a single selected signal,which may be thus be set to danger or safety at the will of the centraloperator. By increasing or diminishing the frequency developed bygenerator A the speed of all of the motors may be changed accordinglyand any other signal of the series set in accordance with this speedWithout in any way interfering with the other signals of the system. Forinstance, signals Nos. 1, 2, and 3 maybe set successively to danger andsubsequently cleared in the same or reverse order, or each signal may beset to danger and cleared before the next succeeding one is operated,and so on, the operation of any signal being effected in strictaccordance with the current conditions in the line or the speed of theseveral motors.

A simple and effective means for changing the frequency of thesignal-operating circuit is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which M indicatesa direct-current shunt-motor belted to the generator A, with a rheostatR in the field circuit of said motor to accurately regulate the currentfrom the leads L L, flowing through the field of said motor M, andthereby regulate the speed of said motor and the generator A, driventhereby. As the frequency of the current generated by A is a directfunction of the speed of the generator A, it will be seen that anydesired frequency may be produced and maintained by regulating the speedof the drivingmotor M by the means shown.

As heretofore referred to, the position and operation of each signal maybe indicated or recorded at the central operating-station. In thepresent plan this is accomplished by providing each signal-station witha distinctive code-signal make-and-break device 1;, w, and x, whichcloses a circuit from a grounded battery 8 at the central stationthrough a recording instrument r o it, lead 2 of the power-circuit, wirea, circuit-breaker w a: of the operating-semaphore, wire In, to ground,thereby recording on strip a the distinctive indication in dots anddashes controlled by the corresponding member 12.

WVhile I have thus particularly described one embodiment of my improvedsignals and the method of systematizing and operating them, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the particular mechanismreferred to, as the latter may be varied. within wide limits withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A signal system,comprising a series of signals, motors for operating the severalsignals, means controlled by the speed of the individual motors foroperatively coupling the same with the corresponding signals, and meansfor varying the speed of the motors, whereby the signals may be operatedselectively.

2. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, motors for operatingthe several signals, normally disconnected gearing between each motorand the corresponding signal, means controlled by the speed of theindividual motors for operatively engaging said gearing, and means forvarying the speed of the motors, whereby the signals may be operatedselectively.

3. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, motors for operatingthe several signals, normally disconnected gearing between each motorand the corresponding signal, a centrifugal governor connected to eachmotor and controlling the gearing to cause the latter to engage when thecorresponding motor attains a predetermined speed, and means for varyingthe speed of the motors, whereby the signals may be operated selectively4. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, motors for operatingthe several signals, means controlled by the speed of the individualmotors for operatively coupling the same with the corresponding signals,and means controlled from a central station for varying the speed of themotors to operate the signals selectively.

5. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, motors for operatingthe several signals, normally disconnected gearing between each motorand the corresponding signal, means controlled by the speed of theindividual motors for operatively engaging said gearing, and meanscontrolled from a central station for varying the speed of the motors tooperate the signals selectively.

6. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, motors for operatingthe several signals, normally disconnected gearing between each motorand the corresponding signal, a centrifugal governor connected to eachmotor and controlling the gearing to cause the latter to engage when thecorresponding motor attains a predetermined speed, and means controlledfrom a central station for varying the speed of the motors to operatethe signals selectively.

7. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, an electricpower-circuit, motors in said circuit for operating the several signals,means controlled by the speed of the individual motors for operativelyconnecting the same with the corresponding signals, and means at acentral station for changing the current conditions in saidpower-circuit to vary the speed of the motors, whereby said signals maybe operated selectively.

8. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, an electricpower-circuit, motors in said circuit for operating the several signals,means at a central station for changing the current conditions in saidpower-circuit, and means for reversing the direction of the currenttherein whereby the speed of direction of the motors may be controlledto operate the signals selectively in both directions.

9. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, an electricpower-circuit, motors in said circuit for operating the several signals,normally disconnected gearing between each motor and the correspondingsignal, means controlled by the speed of the individual motors foroperatively engaging said gearing, and means at a central station forchanging the current conditions in said powercircuit to vary the speedof the motors; whereby said signals may be operated selectively.

10. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, an electricpower-circuit, motors in said circuit for operating the several signals,normally disconnected gearing between each motor and the correspondingsignal, means controlled by the speed of the individual motors foroperatively engaging said gearing, means at a central station forchanging the current conditions in said power-circuit, and means forreversing the current therein; whereby the speed and direction of themotors may be controlled to operate the signals selectively in bothdirections.

11. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, a multiphaseelectric power-circuit, induction-motors in said circuit for operatingthe several signals, means for varying the phases in said circuit toregulate the speed of the motors, and means controlled by the speed ofthe individual motors for operatively connecting the motors with thecorresponding signals.

12. A signal system, comprising a series of signals, a multiphaseelectric power-circuit, induction-motors in said circuit for operatingthe several signals, means for varying the phases in said circuit toregulate the speed of the motors, means controlled by the speed of theindividual motors for operatively connecting the motors with thecorresponding signals, and a switch for reversing the direction ofcurrent-[low in said circuit to change the direction of the severalmotors.

13. A signal, comprising a semaphore, a reciprocating slide connectedthereto for swinging the same, a geared crank-shaft for actuating saidslide, a motor normally disconnected from said crank-shaft, and meanscontrolled by the speed of the motor for connecting the latter to thecrank-shaft to operate the signal.

14.. A signal, comprising a semaphore, a reciprocating slide connectedthereto for swinging the same, a detent for locking the signal, a gearedcrank-shaft for tripping said detent and actuating said slide, a motornormally disconnected from said crank-shaft, and means controlled by thespeed of the motor for connecting the latter to the crankshaft tooperate the signal.

15. A signal, comprising a semaphore, a reciprocating slide connectedthereto for swinging the same, a detent for locking the signal, a gearedcrank-shaft for tripping said detent and actuating the slide, a motornormally disconnected from said crank-shaft, means controlled by thespeed of the motor for connecting the latter to the crank-shaft, andmeans for disconnecting the same when the signal has been set.

16. A signal, comprising a semaphore, a reciprocating slide connectedthereto for swinging the same, a detent for locking the signal in bothpositions, a crank-shaft for tripping the detent and moving said slidein both directions, a gear on the crank-shaft, an electric motor, amovable gear on the shaft thereof, a governor operating to connect saidgears when the motor attains a predetermined speed, and means fordisengaging said gears when the signal has been set.

17. A signal, comprising a semaphore, a reciprocating slide connectedthereto for swinging the same, a detent for locking the signal in bothpositions, a crank-shaft for tripping the detent and moving said slidein both directions, a gear on the crank-shaft, a spring for returningsaid shaft to inoperative position, an electric motor, a movable gear onthe shaft thereof, a governor operating to connect said gears when themotor attains a predetermined speed, and means for disenpredeterminedspeed, means for disengaging said gears When the signal has been set,and an electric indicator-circuit operated by a moving part of theapparatus to show the position of the signal at the operators station.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRANCIS L. OBRYAN.

Witnesses:

I. NATHANIEL SoAREs, FRED L. OAKs.

